I'm leaning towards a PowerTrax locker for the price and simplicity. I really wanted some input from anyone in the know. I've heard a lot of people are unhappy with limited slip for offroad applications and unhappy with lockers for street applications. I definately don't want to be down a trail and find out that limited slip means limited traction. I want the simplicity and cost effectiveness of a 2WD but able to do trails at the same time. I've heard that with PowerTrax the limitation is the factory axle and in my case the 8.25 but I am also only running a basically stock 3.9 V6. Not racing in the dirt just driving in the dirt. I've also heard that the PowerTrax No Slip is more streetable than the Lock Right version. Anyone ever use one on the 8.25 rear and did you lower the gears too? I am considering 3.55 or 3.90 ratios. I believe my barely readable options sticker shows 3.15, is that right? Never heard of this ratio.

 

If you are going off road with a two wheel drive my suggestion on where to spend your money is on a good winch that can be moved front or rear. Mine is mounted on a 2 inch hitch adaptor with a remote control instead of cable control. I have a 2 inch receiver welded to my plow mount on the front.

 

my 91 was pretty much identical to yours. i am betting your gears are 3.55 since that is what the build sheet i got say.

 

SEAL, I plan on getting a winch but never thought about being able to mount it on the back. That's a great idea. Do they make a tongue for this or did you fab one? I originally was going to use the bumper's tow hitch. I wonder if I could just drill some mounting holes right into the bumper or bed with a plate for just such an emergency.

Where I've gone before, it has a lot of sand, scrub and rocks. Went one time after it rained and the dry river beds were washed out and added that next level of excitement. Took a 2WD lifted Ranger before and never got stuck but some steep hills gave me some problems because of lack of torque and HP with tall gearing.

Wolfie, you may be right, it has some pep to it but if I get some taller tires like 32's it may need some more gearing. I know there's a formula to calculate rpm's at highway speed with different gear ratios. Anyone know this off-hand?

 

Okay, I found this and 75 mph with 32" tires and a 3.90 gear ratio I would be pulling a little over 3000 rpms. That seems a little high, what do you think?

http://www.richmondgear.com/101032.html

 

I fabricated mine myself because I am cheap. They make a cradle with a 2 inch tongue that fits a standard receiver and accepts most full size winches. I don't think I would use a bumper mount with my 8000 lb winch.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Re...s-p/atdfhr.htm

 

i don't think i would ever try to mount a winch to the front bumper even with a metal plate behind the bumper to support it. the only way i would mount a winch on the front of my truck is if i had a custom built bumper that i know could handle the stress. i agree with SEAL though. if you are going to get a winch to get unstuck you should get it setup for a receiver hitch. most of the people that go off road have it setup like that. my dad had a winch mounted to the frame in the back and it never left him stuck but it was a bit inconvenient.

 

I think with 32 inch tires and 3.9 gears, you should be fine. If you have factory size small tires, that gearing would be too high, IMO. My truck's tires are 31.7inch, and I have 3.9 gears. Gas mileage starts to drop off around 65, and the engine starts to feel unhappy at 75. It will do 75 all day with no problem, but I'd rather get 14mpg than 11, so I usually stay at about 60.

That gearing with a 32ish inch tire seems good for offroading to me, but I do have about a 45 horse advantage on you. I have never, since owning the truck, had a lack of torque in first gear while it was running acceptably well. Traction had always been the issue. I've never had it bog down in mud either, it just seems to keep spinning that one tire like its on a jack stand.

Please let us know how the locker works if you get one. I'd very much like one, but I'm way to cheap to take the plunge. And I really have to ask . . . is my truck worth it?

 

Yeah, I may just stick with the 3.55, if that is what I really have. That will keep install cost down. I want to drive it on the highway to wherever I am going to go trailing and in Texas quite a few Interstates are 80 mph and highways are 75 mph. I took some back roads going 70 mph in the Texas hill country the other day and my wife said it felt like a rollercoaster with all the wind in her face. Myself, I was having a blast!

I've been reading up on PowerTrax, which is made by Richmond gears and it is able to be installed with basic tools and reuses the same carrier. NTW has it for $450 in my application. Instead of asking myself if the truck is worth it, I ask myself if I'm worth it - my toy and my money. LOL

http://www.ntwonline.com/Dodge_Lockers_C385.cfm

http://www.powertrax.com/powertrax/noslip.html

 

hey sixgun
its like you said its your toy,if you think its worth it then by all means do it. that is how mostly all of us dudes with these older trucks think,its pesonal preferance,daily driver,street performance truck,lifted mudder truck,show truck.
i myself just keep dumpng money in mine,but will keep it as a nice daily driver for now,maybe some day i will build a 440 for it.
think of it this way its dam nice not to have a monthly payment/higher insurance. dont you think?? thank you and good luck